I just purshased some 3m Swirl Remover for my car and wanted to know if it would still work if I apply by hand? Any tips for that? I don't have a buffer or anything Thanks!

 

Doubtful, my friend. I tried that stuff a while back by hand and it didnt work for me. The only way to truly minimize the swirls is with a buffer. Griot's Garage sells one that is safe for the average user...they say its impossible to burn the paint. Persoanlly, I use Zaino Z5 and it works great. It doesnt remove the swirls, but its puts a layer over the paint and "fills in" the swirlmarks.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....000&L2=L2_1004

www.zainostore.com

 

99% of the time Z5 won't do anything.

3M SMR is mostly oils and fillers. If you want to remove swirls, you'll need a good random orbital buffer such as the one in the link he provided. Except Griot's overcharges for everything. I got the same buffer from www.coastaltool.com with a bonus kit for $119.

 

Hmmm..thanks for the links. Just the car is going to get repainted soon, just the swirls are getting to me. I don't have much to spend right now. Will this do or even help at all
http://pepboys.crossmediaservices.co...d=-2098044618&

What makes a buffer a good one? RPM or anything like that? Thanks for the replies!

 

Porter Cable or none. There's a large assortment of QUALITY pads (unlike the ****ty bonnets on those buffers that will scratch your paint), and it does 6,000 orbits per minute.

 

See my post here:

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...hreadid=494623

 

Thanks. There building a Lowe's here finally so I guess I can save some cash till they finish to pick one of those up lol. Thanks again

 

I'm not sure if you would classify swirl remover the same as rubbing compound, but the compound takes out swirls, light scratches and oxidation.

I used rubbing compound (Turtle Wax compound, it was the paste kind) and rubbed it on in sections with a circular rubbing pad with a back and forth motion...then wiped it off with a terry cloth with the same back and forth motion and it took the swirls right out.

 

I bought some meguiars professional swirl remover and used it with an orbital buffer. I've always been a die hard believer that rotary buffers are the only way to go, but I am trying to use the rotary as little as possible because I've buffed the car soooo many times and I want the paint to last.

This worked great, leaving the paint looking swirl free. You just have to use enought product so you can work it in real good and you need to go over it a couple of times.

 

Buffer will do a better job with rubbing compound or some form of abrasive you will remove scratches and swirls.